IHC Caland : What world are they li

[dawnstar@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Re: IHC Caland : What world are they living in?

Dear Anja, this is an important matter and we are all well aware of the
fine work that BCN is doing, however, it seems quite clear, especially
in light of the historic message sent by the recent Seattle events,
that the IHC company is NOT giving out a clear signal while the message
has been quite clear to them NOT to do business in Burma.

And that the comment by IHC now here does not suggest the contrary.
I have nothing more to add to my previous message.

You earnest comment on restraint is a bit off-base here in view of the
fact that this is an important and timely issue. 

If you must know, the comment was very much restrained. There is a lot
more to say about it, but lets wait and see what the Dutch say. 

Thank you

ds

Anja van Dijk wrote:
> 
> Dawn Star,
> 
> You are aware that there is contact between AI Netherlands and IHC Caland. Simply because I told you so before, in a personal message.
> I don't intend to post anything on the net in this regard, as long as talks are still going on.
> BCN, a NGO that I regards highly and have regular contact with, has posted questions from MP's & a media article on Burmanet. Which is much appreciated.
> 
> Please restrain yourself. But if it makes you feel better, do continue to post in public.
> 
> Best wishes, Anja van Dijk, AI the Netherlands.
> 
> ----------
> Van:  Dawn Star [SMTP:dawnstar@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Verzonden:  woensdag 8 december 1999 12:37
> Aan:  BCN
> CC:  burmanet2-l@xxxxxxxx; burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx
> Onderwerp:  IHC Caland : What world are they living in?
> 
> > De Ruyter has a clear opinion about the military regime: "It belongs
> > to the most critisized regimes in the world, there is no doubt about
> > that. But when there are no clear national or international rules,
> > what should we adhere to? A political signal  - preferable from the EU
> > or the UN, we would take very serious."
> 
> WAIT A MINUTE. WHAT IS HE ASKING FOR? UN SANCTIONS. EU SANCTIONS? The
> latest human rights report was to date the most condemnatory of
> violations by the regime. Total Fina, IHC, and the other companies are
> playing cat and mouse. No sanctions, business as usual? And so they turn
> their back on all the opposition activities in the world against this
> regime? And they turn their back on US sanctions? What sheer nonsense by
> these spineless pirates interested in selling more equipment for the
> buck. Why don't THEY speak up and put their bucks on the bottom line of
> what they already have said? They are like little grade school kids who
> act as though they need to be controlled by technocrats to restrict them
> from what they can or cannot do. No principles. NO morality. No human
> dignity. Just sell, sell sell. And if there were sanctions? Did the UN
> pass sanctions against Libya, and the French still went in. So the nice
> Dutch here now, say, help us, we understand, we want to help you, but
> what? Cant they read the ILO? Has their directors talked to ILO
> delegates about forced labor and human rights violations. Sick minds,
> sick business, sick action.
> 
> WE AT EUROBURMA THANK AND ENCOURAGE THE BCN NOT TO LET GO OF THE REINS
> BUT TO RIDE ON AND PUSH THEIR GOVERNMENT LEADERS TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE
> AND BACK THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTS THE EU RESOLUTIONS THE ILO JULY
> 1998 RAPPORT THE 1998 AND 1999 SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL RESOLTUIONS AND
> TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO MAKE CONSCIENTIOUS DECISIONS THAT EFFECT THE FUTURE
> AND LIVES OF PEOPLE AND DEMOCRACY IN BURMA.
> 
> DONT THEY KNOW THAT DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI HAS BEEN STEADY AND CONSISTENT
> ON BOYCOTT SAYING THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO INVEST OR DO BUSINESS WITH
> BURMA BUT TO WAIT.
> 
> IHC DOESNT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT DEMOCRACY IN BURMA BUT THEIR DIRECTORS
> JUST DONT WANT TO SAY IT.
> 
> INSTEAD OF DREGGING THEY OUGHT TO GO CLEAN OUT SOME PRISON CELLS OF
> POLITICAL PRISONERS.
> 
> HAVE THEY TALKED TO AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL IN HOLLAND? WHAT DOES AMNESTY
> HAVE TO SAY. TOTAL FINA LIKES AMNESTY IN FRANCE. THEY SAID SO IN THE
> FRENCH PARLIMENTARY INFORMATION RAPPORT INQUIRY ON THE FRENCH TOTAL FINA
> ELF COMPANY WORLD ACTIVITY.
> 
> DOES AMNESTY GIVE THEM ANY GUIDELINES? I AM SURPRISED NOT TO SEE A WORD
> ABOUT THE CONTACTS WITH AMNESTY AND IHC. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHATS GOING
> ON.
> 
> THANK YOU BCN
> EUROBURMANET  PARIS
> 
> BCN wrote:
> >
> > Taken from the Dutch central news network ANP (General Dutch Newsagency)
> > Translated and commented by BCN.
> >
> > December 7th, 1999
> > ANP Fin
> > Keywords; company IHC; IHC, Burma
> >
> > IHC Caland wants political guidelines for disputed delivery
> >
> > SCHIEDAM (ANP) - IHC Caland expects politics to define rules for deliveries
> > to countries that violate human rights. (IHC ceo De Ruyter, BCN) made
> > this remark in reaction to questions raised by parliament member
> > Koenders (Pvda) (Labour, BCN) about the sale by IHC of a cutter
> > suction dredger to the military junta of Myanmar, the former Burma.
> > President-director C. de Ruyter of IHC Caland says that within the
> > board of his company never before has a delivery been "discussed and
> > pondered over" so long as this one. "Moreover it is a very small
> > delivery of several million guilders compared to others (2 million us,
> > BCN). This delivery isbeing paid for in cash and cannot possibly be
> > used for human rights violations."
> > De Ruyter has a clear opinion about the military regime: "It belongs
> > to the most critisized regimes in the world, there is no doubt about
> > that. But when there are no clear national or international rules,
> > what should we adhere to? A political signal  - preferable from the EU
> > or the UN, we would take very serious." The cutter suction dredger is
> > being delivered by IHC Holland, a daughter company of IHC in
> > Schiedam. Member of parliament Koenders wants to know from minister
> > Van Aartsen (Foreign Affairs) and underminister Ybema (Economic
> > Affairs) in how far the sale to Myanmar is in conflict with
> > (inter)national rules. Moreover, he wants to know if there are
> > possibilities to act against IHC for its sale to the junta, For years,
> > humanrights groups have been saying the regime tortures and executes
> > people.